Its characters may have no place to go, but the drama South of No North is happily staying put at Off-Off-Broadway’s 29th Street Repertory. The theatrical rendering of the down-and-out subjects of the late poet and writer, Charles Bukowski, opened Sept. 20 for a run through Oct.. 22 that has now been stretched to an open run, according to artistic director David Mogentale. “We have such a zero budget for marketing,” Mogentale told Playbill On-Line (Oct. 10), “but we put these posters up and we’ve been getting calls out of the wordwork from fans of [Bukowski’s] work. Makes me think we should do Steven King next!”

An industry reading of South of No North was held in June, following a showcase production of the play Feb. 24-March 26. In the piece, nine stories from the "South of No North" collection were adapted and directed by Leo Farley and Jonathan Powers for the stage.

Characterized by Bukowski's creation, Henry Chinaski, South of No North follows the adventures of a man down on his luck but still determined. Bukowski's Chinaski works also include two of his classic novels, "Post Office" and "Women." His screenplay "Barfly" was made into a 1988 movie starring Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke and that process, in turn, became a novel, "Hollywood." He died in California March 9, 1994, after completing his final novel, "Pulp."

Stephen Payne, star of the recent film "Hell's Kitchen" with 2000 Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie, stars as Bukowski. Tim Corcoran, Elizabeth Elkins, Paula Ewin, Gordon Holmes, Moira MacDonald and Charles Willey are also in the cast.

Designing the show are Mark Symczak (set), Stewart Wagner (lights) and Gerard Drazba (sound). Tickets are $35. 29th Street Rep is located at 212 West 29th Street, 2nd Floor. For reservations, call (212) 465-0575. For more information on 29th Street Rep, consult the web at http://www.29thstreetrep.com.

-- By Christine Ehren